Serum beta-glucuronidase activity in a population of ex-coalminers.

Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate whether BGD activity is of additional value in the assessment of pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure. DESIGN AND METHODS: Ex-coalminers were included in this study. Forty-eight healthy male subjects, without a relevant medical history, were used as controls. RESULTS: In ex-coalminers serum BGD activity was higher compared to the control group. Moreover, ex-coalminers with a normal chest radiograph and normal serum LDH demonstrated elevated serum BGD compared to the control group. However, no relation was found in the total group of ex-coalminers between serum BGD activity and pulmonary function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds in vivo human evidence to the already existing animal data that BGD is a potential biomarker useful in monitoring pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure